[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] American Jose Francisco Torres won the Concacaf Champions League title when he started for Pachuca in its 1-0 win over Cruz Azul in Wednesday's final. Edgar Benitez scored two minutes into stoppage time to even the series at 2-2 and give Pachuca its third continental crown in four years thanks to its away goal in the first leg.

With Pachuca on the verge of defeat, Benitez scored when he beat Cruz Azul goalkeeper Jose Corona with a low, left-footed shot after Ulises Mendivil flicked a ball into the area ahead with a back heal.

"When we saw the ball hit the net, it was madness," Pachuca coach Guillermo Rivarola said. "There was tons of emotion. We all wanted to hug each other as the goal gave us the championship and the ticket to the Club World Cup. I really can't describe it."

Pachuca advances to the 2010 Club World Cup, scheduled to be played Dec. 8-18 in the United Arab Emirates.

Torres, who had the best chance for Pachuca in the first half when his cross skipped off the crossbar, played for the Tuzos when they went to the 2008 Club World Cup in Japan. He did not play for Pachuca in the final series against Saprissa when it won the Concacaf title earlier that year.

Cruz Azul also lost in last year's Concacaf final, falling to Atlante.